If you’ve been trying to find a great way to celebrate Father’s Day, this dance is for you! On Saturday, June 16, Dads Works will hold their seventh annual Daddy Daughter Dance from 6 to 9 p.m. at the VFW Post 467 in Westminster.

The ticket cost for dad is $35, but all daughters attend free.

Girls are encouraged to wear cowboy boots with jeans or dresses, but there is no dress code for this cowgirl-themed dance. Each dad receives a keepsake photo and daughters will take home a special gift.

Dads Works Executive Director David Berry said 56 dads and 64 daughters turned out for last year’s dance and he hopes to see even more this year.

“We have a professional photographer coming to do sitting photos with dads and their daughters,” he said. “They will get to take their photos home that night.”

Those who attend could win one of the myriad door prizes to be drawn throughout the night, including gift cards to restaurants, ice cream, frozen yogurt, the bakery and more. They can take chances on raffle baskets, too.

“We will have a dozen baskets,” Berry said. “Ten will be oriented toward the girls and at least two will be oriented towards the dads.”

“We have several princess baskets with crowns and all sorts of princess things,” she said. “One basket is a movie night basket with candy, movies and popcorn. And all the little girl baskets get a piece of jewelry. There are two raffles for teenage girls with jewelry, makeup, nail polish and more. Afghans and donated gift cards will also go in some of the baskets, too. The raffle baskets for dads will be filled with supplies from Battery Warehouse.”

Diane said that each girl who attends will get bag of special goodies to take home as well, with a necklace, a crocheted butterfly, candy and other things they will love.

Advance registration is required, so register now. No walk-ins will be accepted at the door.

“This is a girls’ dream, to have a dance with their father,” David Berry said. “It creates a fond memory that will last a lifetime.”

If you want to attend one of the best dances in the West (minster area), register now at www.dadsworks.org.

For information on Moms Works or dance sponsorship opportunities, contact Diane Berry at 443-536-4669.

Deer Park UMC Speaker Series

In March, Deer Park United Methodist Church had to cancel a promising talk by death row exoneree Randal Padget because of a rare March snowstorm. That speaker is flying in from Alabama to try once more, and church member, David Bennett is hoping to see an amazing turnout.

On Tuesday, June 5, at 7 p.m. the Deer Park United Methodist Church Speaker Series continues with the talk “Witness to Innocence: Featuring Death Row Exoneree, Randal Padgett.” Padgett spent five years on Alabama’s death row for a crime he did not commit, but was acquitted in October 1997. His story has been featured in several books on the quest for justice.

“Randall has an interesting story to tell about presumption of guilt and the use of DNA as evidence,” Bennett wrote in an email interview. “His story is one of many who have been exonerated after spending several years on death row. The Witness to Innocence project helps share the stories of those people and assist those on death row who attempt to be exonerated.”

This riveting talk begins at 7 p.m. at Deer Park United Methodist Church, 2205 Sykesville Road (the intersection of Md. 32 and Deer Park Road) in Smallwood, which is in the Westminster zip code area.

Bennett said those who attend this free event will find light refreshments, free childcare and the opportunity to purchase books that include Randal’s story, as well as those of others who spent time on death row.

Mattress fundraiser

The Westminster High School Instrumental Music Boosters will hold a Mattress Fundraiser on Saturday, May 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. inside the high school gymnasium. According to WHS Music Boosters treasurer Beth Graham, the gym will be magically transformed into a mattress showroom for a day.

“These are all brand-name mattresses like Simmons and Beautyrest with factory warranties and they are all up to 50 percent off retail,” Graham said. “They have broadened their delivery area to be anywhere in Maryland and most areas in surrounding states. They can even deliver across country if they can coordinate it with another sales rep in local delivery area.”

“This will be the third annual mattress sale by WHSIMB and we have not had one complaint from anyone who has purchased a mattress,” Graham said, noting that no mattresses will be available to take home that day. “And this year they also have sheets, pillows and mattress protectors available for sale.”

Money made at the mattress sale will help the Boosters pay for Master class camps for instrumentalists, uniforms, electronics, instrument repairs, performance props, flags and travel costs for the marching band.

“We also provide scholarships so that students do not have to incur high fees to be a part of extracurricular ensembles,” she said. “In 2017, we made $5,550 from this mattress sale — thanks to the help of our community. The music boosters will get rewarded for each mattress sold, which will help all of our instrumental music groups including marching band, jazz band and curricular ensembles.”

Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted at this sale. Layaway and delivery are available.

Westminster High School is located at 1225 Washington Road in Westminster.

Pancake Breakfast and communitywide yard sale

On Saturday, May 19, Deer Park United Methodist Church will hold a pancake breakfast with a communitywide yard sale at the church, located at the intersection of Deer Park Road and Md. 32 in Smallwood.

The pancake breakfast will take place from 7 to 10 a.m. and will include pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, applesauce, juice and coffee or tea. Breakfast costs $7 for adults or $3 for ages 5 to 12. Kids ages 4 years old and younger eat free.

The breakfast is sponsored by the Deer Park UMC Men’s Group and Deer Park Lions Club, with proceeds to benefit the church and community outreach projects.

The yard sale will take place from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the lawns outside the church. Spaces (20-feet-by-20-feet) are still available for $20 each.

Lunch will also be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, sodas and chips. There will also be a bake table with lots of homemade dessert items.

For further information, contact the church office at 410-848-2313 or visit www.dpumc.net. The church is located at 2205 Sykesville Road, Westminster.

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Recruits in the Carroll County Sheriff's Office Training Academy get hands-on training behind the wheel of a police car at the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions Driver Training Facility in Sykesville.

Recruits in the Carroll County Sheriff's Office Training Academy get hands-on training behind the wheel of a police car at the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions Driver Training Facility in Sykesville.

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Recruits in the Carroll County Sheriff's Office Training Academy get hands-on training behind the wheel of a police car at the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions Driver Training Facility in Sykesville.

Recruits in the Carroll County Sheriff's Office Training Academy get hands-on training behind the wheel of a police car at the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions Driver Training Facility in Sykesville.

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Brian Geraci, Maryland state fire marshal, gives an update after firefighters found a deceased female inside an apartment in the 900 block of Marimich Court in Sykesville Monday morning.

Brian Geraci, Maryland state fire marshal, gives an update after firefighters found a deceased female inside an apartment in the 900 block of Marimich Court in Sykesville Monday morning.

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Crews from New Windsor and surrounding fire companies were still working to control a house fire in the 1600 block of Bowersox Road, more than an hour after the blaze began Thursday.

Crews from New Windsor and surrounding fire companies were still working to control a house fire in the 1600 block of Bowersox Road, more than an hour after the blaze began Thursday.

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Volunteers from Camden Cares make needed renovation to the Hampstead home of Melissa and Jonathan Meadows Monday, Dec. 3, 2018. Jonathan Meadows, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, is a retired sergeant first class of the Army National Guard who was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and PTSD.

Volunteers from Camden Cares make needed renovation to the Hampstead home of Melissa and Jonathan Meadows Monday, Dec. 3, 2018. Jonathan Meadows, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, is a retired sergeant first class of the Army National Guard who was diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and PTSD.

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The town of Hampstead held its annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Banner Display at Main Street Memorial Park in Hampstead Friday, Nov. 30, 2018.

The town of Hampstead held its annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Banner Display at Main Street Memorial Park in Hampstead Friday, Nov. 30, 2018.